Pop singer Selena.

Musical rise and brutal death

at the hands of a friend
Selena became known as the Queen of the Tejano Music and the
Latin Madonna. With her Latin American accordion dance music,
which combines elements of jazz, country and German polka, the
musician has garnered millions of admirers. She, like another Texas
native, Beyonce, could have topped the music charts of the twenty-
first century. The world was about to hear her first English-language
album, but fate had other plans. The Texas star was murdered by
her own friend, singer's boutique manager and the head of her fan
club, Yolanda Saldívar. Find out more about Selena's rise to
popularity and the tragic end of her life at the age of 23 at
houstonski.

Early years and performances with Selena y Los Dinos

The poop diva Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971, in
Lake Jackson, Texas. The name Selena is derived from the Greek
word "Selene," which means "goddess of the Moon." In an interview
with Entertainment Tonight, Selena's sister Suzette Quintanilla
revealed that her parents were certain a boy would be born and did
not choose a name for a girl. This name was suggested by a
woman in labor who was in the ward with Selena's mother.

When the girl was nine years old, her father established the family
band Selena y Los Dinos. Her sister Suzette played drums, and her
brother Abraham played bass. Her father wrote many Spanish-
language songs for the band, which the musicians performed in the
family restaurant. Since Selena didn't speak Spanish fluently, she
had to learn the language.

The band performed around Texas, usually as an opening act for

other bands performing Tejano music, which combines elements of
Mexican and American cultures. Due to the growing popularity of
the band, Selena stopped attending school in the 8th grade,
although she still obtained a General Educational Development
(GED) diploma.

In 1984, Selena y Los Dinos recorded their first album, "Mis

Primeras Grabaciones", followed by "Alpha" and "Muequito de
Trapo" two years later. In 1986, 15-year-old Selena was named the
Female Vocalist of the Year at the Tejano Music Awards.
Throughout her career, she was always willing to experiment with
new genres, releasing albums that completely altered the world of
techno music.

Solo success and business

In 1989, Quintanilla signed a contract with EMI Latin and, in the
same year, released her debut solo album "Selena". Following that,
the singer released several more solo albums. Together with
Salvadoran singer Álvaro Torres, Selena recorded her debut pop
duet, "Buenos Amigos". In 1992, the Queen of Tejano Music
married Selena y Los Dinos guitarist Chris Pérez, becoming Selena
Quintanilla-Pérez.

Two years later, "Selena Live!" (1993) won a Grammy for Best
Mexican/American Album. She became the first Tejano artist to get
a Grammy in this category. Selena became one of the most
renowned and recognizable Latin American musicians thanks to the
way she presented herself, honoring her roots every time she took
the stage.

In 1994, the Texan ventured into business, establishing clothing

brands and opening two boutiques. In the same year, she released
the album "Amor Prohibido," which was nominated for a Grammy in
1995 for Best Mexican/American Album. At the time, Selena was
working on her debut English-language album but was unable to
complete it...

Murder
In early 1994, Yolanda Saldívar was appointed Selena's boutique
manager. After 8 months, Saldívar became the singer's registered
agent in the Texas city of San Antonio. She eventually relocated to
Corpus Christi to be closer to Selena. In December 1994, the
number of employees in boutiques decreased significantly. Saldívar
frequently fired employees she disliked. Employees complained
about the manager's actions to Selena, but Popdiva trusted
Saldívar.

In January of the following year, fashion designer Martin Gomez

and a few clients expressed their concerns about Saldívar's
behavior and managerial skills. Yolanda managed not only Selena's
boutiques but also her fan club. Subsequently, fans began to
complain that they had paid Saldívar for club membership but had
never received it. Ultimately, it was discovered that Yolanda
embezzled more than 30,000 dollars by falsifying checks from both
the fan club and boutiques.

Despite everything, Selena did not want to lose her friend, believing
that she was critical to the development of her clothes brand in
Mexico. Furthermore, the singer sought to ensure that Yolanda
continued to keep bank records, statements and so on for tax
purposes. A few days before Selena's death, Saldívar significantly
delayed the process of transferring her bank statements and
necessary financial documents, allegedly because she was
physically and sexually abused in Mexico.

On March 31, 1995, Saldívar and Selena went to a medical clinic

for a checkup. Yolanda passed it, but she didn't actually go to the
gynecological office. The fact is that Saldívar lived in San Antonio,
and that's where she had to go through tests to confirm that she
had been raped.

Following the medical check-up, Selena met Yolanda in a motel

room in Corpus Christi. There, Selena asked for financial
documentation, and Saldívar pulled out a gun and pointed it at the
singer. When Selena tried to escape, Yolanda shot her in the right
lower shoulder, injuring the subclavian artery. The critically injured
performer fled to the lobby, leaving a 119-meter trail of blood behind
her, while Saldívar ran after her. The victim collapsed on the floor
as the clerk dialed the emergency service. The injured woman was
able to name her attacker and provide the room number where she
was shot.

Saldívar got into her pickup truck and tried to run away. After almost
9.5 hours of pursuit by the police and the FBI, Yolanda surrendered.
At the time, 23-year-old Selena was taken to a hospital in Corpus
Christi. Her dilated pupils showed no signs of neurological function,
therefore doctors declared clinical brain death. However, cardiac
surgeons were able to establish an "erratic heartbeat", after which
the patient was transferred to the trauma department. There,
Selena had a blood transfusion, but later the star's heart stopped
beating.

On the same day, during an autopsy, forensic experts found a bullet

in the right upper back of the deceased. It entered the chest cavity,
severed the right subclavian artery and exited through the upper
right side of the chest. The singer was not using drugs and was not
pregnant at the time of the incident.
Legacy
A few months after her death, her album "Dreaming of You" (1995)
was released, which included some finished English-language
songs as well as previously recorded and some new Tejano songs.
This album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 chart,
becoming the first album by a Latin American artist to achieve it.

Following the death of the Queen of Tejano Music, various books

and films about her life were released, including the biographical
drama "Selena" (1997), starring Jennifer Lopez.

2020 saw the release of Netflix's biographical television series

"Selena: The Series". It relates the narrative of how the singer rose
to popularity and the sacrifices she and her family made to achieve
success.